"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'
He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
12 comments:
exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you
What a beautiful post - thanks!
Awesome! I got goosebumps! So true, yet so hard!
This ministered to me today! Thank you!
Good post, LA. So true, and exactly what we need to hear. Albert and I were recently talking about the birth of our children. They come out crying not knowing what's happening to them...yet for us it's one of the most exciting days of our lives. We see a bigger picture than the new little ones do...much like God does for us. Hates to see us in pain, but knowing the end result makes it all so worth it.
Sorry for the rambling, hopefully I made the connection! :)
Loved this! Those are verses I return to often. Thank you!
Oo! I LOVED this. Gave me chills -- in a good way.
btw ... it's Friday.
;-D
Wow - very cool! That is such a great post - I often realize how much my children provide opportunities for God to teach me things and help me grow in my walk with Him.
"until I see my image" Love it!
Loved, loved this one.
Susan
Very awesome! I love how God illustrates Himself in cultural things!
Funny - last week Rachel had a phonics lesson on "F" for 'Refiner's Fire' and learned this lesson. A few days later she had been suffereing through a 104 temp with nasty headache. I asked her how she was to try to comfort her and she says "It's okay, Mommy. I'ts just a fire. You know - to get out my yuckies so I can be more like Jesus."
I am always floored at how He teaches little hearts too!
beautiful image....painful, but oh so worth it.
*ahem*
It's Monday.
;-)
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